UNIT: DENOTATION & CONNOTATION
LESSON PLANS: Introduction, Practice, Application, Poetry, Night, Quiz
A.
​CDE STANDARDS:
9 & 10 Reading/Language Arts
1.0 Word Analysis, Fluency, and Systematic Vocabulary Development
1.1
​Identify and use the literal and figurative meaning of words
1.2
​Distinguish between the denotative and connotative meanings of
​words and interpret the connotative power of words.
B.
​OBJECTIVES
Students will:
• Define and explore the concept of connotation
• Examine how word choice affects meaning
• Practice and apply the concept of connotation
LESSON PLAN: INRODUCTION
Denotation:
Connotation:
​the dictionary and literal meaning of a word
​the emotional / contextual / cultural meaning attached to a word; shades and
degrees of meaning
​
EXAMPLES:
1.
​
​Home, House, Residence, Dwelling
Denotation:
Connotation:
Home:
​
​These words all mean a place in which someone lives.
​
​cozy, loving, comfortable, security, images or feelings of people
​you associate with it
It could also opposite --depending upon a person’s experiences.
(Traditionally, the connotation is “cozy, loving,” etc., and a reader
should be aware of this and other connotations in a reading
passage.)
​House:
​the actual building or structure
​Residence:
​Cold, no feeling
​Dwelling:
​primitive or basic (picture a cave, etc.)
2. Vagrants, people with no address, homeless
​Vagrants:
​nuisance
​
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
​People with no address:
​official, neutral, businesslike
​Homeless:
​object of pity/charity, not as negative as vagrant
Overweight vs. fat
Job vs. career
Student vs. scholar
Doctor vs. physician
Rich vs. wealthy
Immigrant vs. alien
Alien vs. illegal
LESSON PLAN: PRACTICE
Read the following sentences.
Annette was surprised.
​Annette was amazed.
​Annette was astonished.
1. What is the general meaning of each of the three sentences about Annette? Do the words
“surprised,” “amazed,” and “astonished” have approximately the same denotation?
2. What additional meanings are suggested by “astonish?” Would one be more likely to be
surprised or astonished at seeing a ghost?
3. Which word in each pair below has the more favorable connotation to you? Circle your
answer.
o
Thrifty
o
Pushy
o
Politician
o
Chef
o
Slender
​-
​penny-pinching
-​
​aggressive
-​
​statesman
-​
​cook
-​
​skinny
4. The closer a word is to describing what an individual believes about him/herself, the more
positive the euphemism becomes. Thus:
• I am a genius / You are a nerd / He is a show-off
• I am a brilliant conversationalist / You “talk a lot” /
She “never shuts up”
DENOTATION & CONNOTATION QUIZ
Which connotation is more positive? Write the answer (the word) in the _________
1. Our trip to the amusement park was _____.
a) fine
b) wonderful
2. _______ people rode on the roller coaster.
a) Brave
b) Foolhardy
3. We saw _____ animals in the animal house.
a) fascinating
b) weird
4. Some of the monkeys made _____ faces.
a) hilarious
b) amusing
5. Everyone had a _____ on his or her face on the way home.
a) smile
b) smirk
Which connotation is more negative?
6. We bought _____ souvenirs at the amusement park.
a) cheap
b) inexpensive
7. I ate a _____ sandwich.
a) soggy
b) moist
8. Mike _____ us to go to the funny house.
a) nagged
b) reminded
9. I didn't like the _____ on the jester's face.
a) smirk
b) grin
10. It made me feel _____.
a) uneasy
b) frightened
Which is the best answer?
11. Which is worth more?
a) something old
b) something antique
12. Which is better?
a) to be skinny
b) to be slender
13. Which would you rather be called?
a) thrifty
b) cheap
14. Which would a vain person be more likely to do?
a) stroll
b) parade
15. Which is more serious?
a) problem
b) disaster
16. Which is more polite?
a) sip a drink
b) gulp it
17. Which would you be if you hadn't eaten for several days?
a) hungry
b) starving
18. Which would you be after a walk in the mud?
a) filthy
b) dirty